A nationwide census will be held tomorrow (15 Mar) to identify crop-damaging animals in a bid to mitigate issues faced by the agricultural sector. 

The census will be conducted to track animals, such as monkeys, giant squirrels and peacocks, in home gardens and farmlands.

The Ministry of Agriculture has taken the necessary measures to conduct the census on Saturday from 08.00 am to 08.05 am.

According to a form distributed for this purpose, five minutes have been provided for farmers to count such animals on their properties.

Those who do not receive a form are advised to note down the number of these animals observed within their premises during the designated five-minute window and submit the information to their relevant Grama Niladhari officer. 

The Ministry of Agriculture has also designated officers who will coordinate with farm managers to ensure accurate data collection in areas with large-scale cultivations. 

According to the ministry, at least 62,000 government officials will participate in this census and it will be conducted based on 70,000 households.

In addition, the census will be conducted based on 1.3 million different locations, including public places, government institutions, religious places, university and school premises, cultivated lands, and farmlands.

Accordingly, this census will be conducted in 8,300,000 locations on a single day within a period of five minutes, the Agriculture Ministry added. (Newswire)

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The Attorney General’s advice is to be obtained about recovering the Rs. 660 million that was placed as a deposit for a private building in Rajagiriya for the use of the Ministry of Agriculture during the tenure of a former government, Secretary to the Ministry M.P.N.M. Wickremesinghe said. 

Speaking to the media, the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture revealed that there have been some irregularities in the ministry during the previous government.

Wickremesinghe told the media that Rs. 660 million that was placed as a deposit for a building taken on rent under the ministry was unable to be traced. 

“We have found some irregularities at the Ministry of Agriculture. A building had been acquired for the ministry and a deposit of Rs. 660 million was given. Usually, a bond is taken from a bank for this purpose, but it has been found that no such action has been taken,” he said.

The Agriculture Ministry Secretary said that as of now, it has been years since the building has been returned but the deposit amount has not been received yet, and the former government has not attempted to recover the money.

M.P.N.M. Wickremesinghe added that investigations are being carried out into the irregularities found at the Ministry of Agriculture. 

The private building in Rajagiriya, in question, had been obtained on rent by Duminda Dissanayake, who served as the Agriculture Minister during the Yahapalanaya Government for a monthly rent of Rs. 21 million.

At that time,  there was criticism about the rent given by the government for this building which belonged to the husband of popular film actress Sabitha Perera.

It is reported that the Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which is looking into alleged fraud and corruption in government institutions between January 2015 and December 2018, had focused its attention on this building. (Newswire)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe has met with two innovative young farmers who are utilizing cutting-edge agricultural technology as part of the Agriculture Modernization Project implemented by the government.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), among them, Bandula Munasinghe from Puliyankulam village in Tirappane, Anuradhapura has earned an income of Rs. 12 million in 09 months from cultivating half an acre of chillies. 

The other farmer, Budhika Sudarshana from Galkulama has achieved a noteworthy income of Rs. 04 million in two months from cultivating an acre of watermelon.

Accompanied by a portion of their harvest, these young farmers met with the President to express their gratitude for his support in implementing the government’s agriculture modernization program, which has enabled them to achieve bountiful harvests.

Bandula Munasinghe adopted the high-density cultivation method introduced by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agriculture Modernization Project to cultivate half an acre of chillies.

In traditional farming practices, half an acre typically accommodates around 6000 chilli plants. However, with the adoption of high-density cultivation methods, this number has increased to 13,000 plants, significantly boosting productivity. It is noted that this innovative system has the potential to multiply yields several times over.

Buddhika Sudarshana, a 39-year-old father of two from Anuradhapura, is also one such individual embracing this progressive approach.

He noted that he achieved a significant yield from cultivating watermelon on one acre using modern technology, resulting in substantial income. He achieved this by selling a kilogram of watermelon for approximately Rs. 180.

The President highlighted that these young farmers serve as exemplary figures in the government’s efforts to revolutionize agriculture in the nation. As a token of appreciation for their endeavours, the President presented them with mementoes. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to provide financial assistance for the cultivation of mandarin oranges in the lower areas of the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Badulla Districts. 

The decision was taken during a discussion held at the Agriculture Ministry on utilizing the funds allocated in the 2023 budget for new cultivation projects.

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera pointed out the huge local demand for mandarin oranges as well as the large expenditure drawn due to the annual importation of the fruit from foreign countries.

“In 2022, nearly 2,407 metric tons of oranges were imported for a sum of Rs. 496 million. In 2019, nearly 7,773 metric tons were imported for Rs. 949 million. In this way, Rs. 670 million and Rs. 735 million have been spent in 2020 and 2021, respectively,” he revealed.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said out of the imported oranges most are found to be mandarin oranges, which could be cultivated in Sri Lanka. 

He further stated that research conducted on the cultivation of mandarin oranges in Sri Lanka has been successful, adding that the lower areas of Badulla, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy districts have been identified as areas with a suitable climate for the cultivation of mandarin oranges. 

A project report related to mandarin orange cultivation has been submitted and the Minister has instructed the officials of the Department to take steps to establish the cultivation zones in Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts within this year. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Agriculture is taking measures to introduce goat farming to unemployed youths in rural areas of Sri Lanka, it was reported.

According to Daily News, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweeera said that 70,000 goats will be distributed to unemployed youths in rural areas and those interested in goat farming.

Pointing out that goat farming is not conducted on a large scale in Sri Lanka at present, resulting in goat meat and goat milk being imported from foreign countries, he said a high income can be obtained from goat skin and producing goat manure.

Minister Amaraweera further said that thereby, the Agriculture Ministry has decided to allocate Rs. 150 million this year for the goat farming project in order to get additional sources of income.

He went on to state that the youths will be provided with high-quality goats and the technology required for goat management as well as to buy back products related to goat farming. 

Several suitable goat breeds such as Jamanpari, Kottukachchi, Boer and Sanan which can generate more income have been identified for this purpose, he said. 

Stating that by the end of this year, 70,000 goats will be provided, the minister revealed that the aim is to further increase the amount in 2024.

The Agriculture Minister stated that a few districts with space for goat management will be selected for the project to be launched, adding that Private sector support is also to obtained. 

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera made the remarks during a discussion held with a group of officials, including the Minister of State for Rural Development Kader Mastan, at the Ministry of Agriculture. (NewsWire)

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